Photo courtesy of Ken Johnson.
Danielle DuBose: What’s next for Miss University of Alabama?
Newly crowned Miss University of Alabama Danielle DuBose waves during this year’s festivities, shortly after her win was announced.
On Feb. 15, Spain Park High School alumna Danielle DuBose was crowned Miss University of Alabama. The Hoover Sun caught up with DuBose shortly after her win to reflect on how this impacts her plans post-graduation and her advice to other young ladies in Hoover who aspire to become role models.
How did you first become involved with the pageant?
My primary motivation was that it represented the culmination of so many priorities that are important to me. It allowed me to be awarded for academics, fitness and other areas where I had worked really hard. The fact that I could obtain scholarship money and recognition for these efforts is what drew me to the Distinguished Young Women competition in the first place back in high school.
The Miss University of Alabama pageant is my first preliminary of any kind (the pageant is a preliminary for Miss Alabama and Miss America), so it was definitely new to me. But I did it because I had been so involved on the university campus. I was really passionate about improving the campus and contributing in any way that I could.
What do you see as your legacy and impact on campus?
The goals in the Miss America organization are to support women in their personal and professional endeavors, and to promote their voices in culture. That’s what I want to impact on campus. I want to be a voice for women’s issues on campus and to help them achieve their full potential.
I recently had the opportunity to participate in a chat about UA Body Appreciation Week that was focused on body image, the way body image is perceived in culture and how we can change that as women and provide a better environment for body image.
I also am working with the Women’s Research Center on several projects. In February, we promoted Women’s History Month and in April, we will focus on Sexual Assault Awareness Month. As for my legacy, I want it to be that I was a positive spokesperson for women on this campus.
How do you plan to build on that platform post-graduation?
My graduation plans are to pursue a master’s degree in accounting and then go to work in a public accounting firm. I definitely have very high career goals for myself and a lot of personal ambition, so I think the campus work will carry over into my professional life as well. I just want to encourage women to seek that high ambition in their careers not to compromise any of the professional goals that they have.
How do you think your high school career prepared you for success?
It is because of the opportunities and wonderful educators I had through Hoover Schools. They truly invested in me and, as a result, I was fully prepared to transition to college. In terms of community impact, I was a Hoover Belle in high school, and that was one of the first experiences I had with service. All of that led me to continue wanting to serve in college as well.
Since I’ve been at UA, I’ve been fortunate to be a part of some incredible groups, including my sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, for which I have served as Vice President of Philanthropy and on the Executive Board. In that capacity, I planned a golf tournament called Tee Off for Tuscaloosa that raised $14,000 for the local community. I also led our efforts to promote domestic violence awareness.
What advice would you give to other young Hoover girls who aspire to follow in your footsteps?
I would tell them to have a sense of purpose in everything you do. The most important thing when you are participating in an event like this is not what or how you do it, but why you do it. I participated so I can make an impact on campus, and so that I could be a role model for women. I want to put forth a good, positive image and that is what I encourage young girls to do. Find that purpose and what you think you can contribute to society and really work for that.
DuBose is the daughter of Susan and Dennis DuBose of Greystone. Her brother Drew is a junior at Spain Park High School. Look for Miss University of Alabama at the Wynfrey Hotel on May 20 as part of the Crimson Caravan.
